Tikkun Olam

     Recently I started a new project helping students from Senior 5 partake in Tikkun Olam (repairing the world). At Agahozo, students in the first year focus on Tikkun HaLev (repairing the heart). When the enter Senior 4, they partake in Tikkun Olam every Tuesday of all terms. They go to Rubona and help with various projects: working in the clinic, teaching in the Primary School and building houses for poor people. In Senior 5, students begin Tikkun Olam in Term 2. Every Thursday they help in different projects: teaching English and educating about computers.

     The specific project that I am focused on is helping to teach English to people living in the areas surrounding Agahozo Shalom. The group of local students is made up of around 20 people ranging in ages from 18 to 45 years old. The local students range in completion of Primary 4 up to Senior 6 (Primary = Middle School, Secondary = High School). Despite the differences in age and educational background, all of the local students are eager to learn English.

Intermediate class.

     Not knowing what to expect, I was blown away! While I didn’t know many of the Senior 5 students, I was so proud of them. They came into Tikkun Olam also not knowing what to expect and with no lesson plan. Fluidly and effortlessly the Senior 5 students worked together to teach the local students greetings and the alphabet. The focus was to test them in order to split the local students into 2 levels, beginners and intermediate.

     Throughout the lesson I couldn’t stop myself from smiling. I was so impressed with the Senior 5 students. One of the most enjoyable parts of the examination was when one student, Chloe, taught the local students the alphabet. After reviewing each letter, Chloe taught them the ABC song (to a different tune than I’m used to, but a really catchy one). With great fervor, the local students sang the song. As they repeated the song, the local students began to smile and sing louder, with more confidence. As more confidence filled the room, the Senior 5 students began to feel more comfortable in their roles as English educators. After the exercise, one of the local students pointed out that the word “Alphabet” was spelled incorrectly on the board. All of the Senior 5 students shared a chuckle as no one had noticed it until one of the local students pointed it out.

     While some Senior 5 students proceeded with the examination, I sat with Patrick, the Senior 5 student that helped me teach English to the Enrichment Year students in one of the first weeks of my being in ASYV. Curious about why so many local students had not been taught English prior, he taught me many things about the education system in Rwanda:

• Before Genocide all Primary and Secondary schooling required school fees. Due to poverty, many people could not afford the school fees.
• After Genocide, many students stopped attending school because of other responsibilities.
• People that were child-head of household often cannot attend school since they have to care for their younger siblings.
• Currently, Primary 1 to Senior 3 is free. School fees are only required for Senior 4 – Senior 6. This allows more students to successfully learn.

Peace and Patrick teaching a lesson. 

It was such a privilege to be with Patrick 5 months after first meeting him. I watched him blossom over time and now be more confident in his ability to share his strong knowledge of English. (He’s the student that really wants to create another youth village in Africa with me.)

     After the examination was completed, the Senior 5 students split the class. I joined the intermediate class to be a resource for English grammar and spelling. The first thing we did when we split into two groups was practice greetings. Through the exercise, it was very clear that one of the local students was a low-level listener and speaker. Two of the Senior 5 students approached me to get advice on how to handle the situation. While I didn’t play an active role in creating and executing the lesson plan, it was really nice to be able to provide advice.

Yves and a local student laughing during the lesson. 

     The lesson exceeded the end time since both the Senior 5 and local students were eager to continue learning. By the end of the lesson, the local students were asking for English translations of various words and sentences. Among the words, “stomach” and “chin” was “My lover, I want to hug you.” The Senior 5 students got a laugh out of that one. After the lesson, I walked back to my house with two Senior 5 students that had taught. They asked me all about the education system in America. It was such an educational and interesting conversation.

     I was so impressed with the performance of both the local and Senior 5 students. It is incredible that the Senior 5 students are able to bring so much energy and passion into teaching English despite their other pressures of school and extracurricular studies. Each Senior 5 student took part in teaching and assisting the local students, and did so with extreme care and commitment. Now that’s what I call Tikkun Olam!

Blaise teaching greetings. 

A Senior 5 student helping a local student. It's almost as if they planned their outfits.